Domitorem Corvo

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
West Point
Raia steps into Gin's favorite bar. Sia is chugging a bottle of scorpion venom while everyone stares in awe. Raia tosses Sia over her shoulder and leaves abruptly.
"I can turn my attention away from you for half an hour?" Raia slings Sia over Chron's back and climbs up. With a soft command Chron howls and space time distorts.

South Point
Shadow is in the courtyard addressing his guards and soldiers.
"You are no longer raiders and extortionists. If I catch any more of this I will not hesitate to kill you. For good." A few of the men have gone pale. Shadow dismisses them and starts to head back into his keep when Raia appears.
"Shadow, we need to talk." Raia announces. Shadow smiles and invites her to tea.

 Smough's Flagship
Smough laughs at Flame and her enthusiasm.
"Of course." Smough removes his jacket and shirt then, as he steps up on the railing, his boots. "Shall we go for a swim? I'll show you them. Personally."

Father's Prison
Nevermore smiles.
"No I think I'll pass." Her smile fades and she's melancholy again. "I've lived my life as a weapon. To be employed for power, wealth, justice, peacekeeping... Gale showed me that even though my hands are stained red with blood I can be more."

Nevermore glances at the ring on her finger. The ring Gale was going to propose with. The ring that's another constant reminder. Though she can't bring herself to remove.

"But i'm not sure if I want to be anything more than just a weapon. I had happiness I never believed I deserved and losing it hurt more than anything I could have imagined. Still hurts." Nevermore it's breathing heavily. The outer ring of her eyes have pitch black veins creeping towards her amethyst irises. "Everything hurts."

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
Smough's Flagship

Smough had laughs heartily when Gaul answers. Fate. If he is lying then he's a damn good liar. With a shake of hands Smough passed Gaul a Bloodgem and had taken his loot.
"Before we go traipsing off to our deaths, I have a prior engagement to attend in the south. With any luck you'll have just employed an immortal "trading" company." Smough steps back and jangles the bag, smiling at the clanking that follows. "After all, I promised these men eternal life at sea. I'm sure you understand."

East Point Wastes
The New Man knows that Lexianna is observing him. He observes her in the same way. Cautiously. But when she asks who he is the new creature hesitates.
"My name. Is Bahruss." A new line of thought flashes into his mind. Information on who he is supposed to be. "My father named me. My father. I was... am or was not supposed to live. I was stillborn. My mother died. Father was sad. So he made a new mother. But Father is ill." Bahruss snaps his attention in the direction of the Bastille. Clothing and armor begin to grow around him as he walks slowly in the direction of The Bastille. "I was imagined as a knight. But I don't remember my purpose. I must ask Father."

Bahruss takes off in a sprint. As he does he morphs. His cells rearrange themselves and he becomes a cheetah at full speed. When he reaches the barrier he comes to a full stop and becomes human again. Reaching out tentatively he places his hand against the barrier. A small crack appears. The crack spreads and soon the dome that loomed over head comes crashing down. As the Arcane Barrier shatters black alchemical markings appear on Bahruss. Seals.

"I am Sir Bahruss."

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
Smough's Flagship
Smough listens. He nods and takes puffs of his pipe. With a deep hum he considers everything.
"So you're a westerner... from earth." Smough says staring at Gaul. Smough reaches out and places one hand on the bag but doesn't take it. Aesir treasure is enticing. But it's it worth getting involved?  "Before I say yes. I need to know one thing. What's your aspect? What'd they put you in charge of?"

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
Father's Prison
Nevermore scoffs almost spitefully.
"Age isn't any indication of readiness..." Nevermore rolls her eyes. Saying that made him sound like a foolish old man. Not ready. Being honest with herself, she's never been ready for any part of her life. That didn't stop it from happening. The world doesn't care if you are ready or not. It just is. As cold and uncaring as... as Galen Kard. The thought sours her mood.

She had forgotten about Cinder. Razz's childhood friend and squad mate turned lover. She had idealized their relationship. Razz and Sia. Mostly because of her Shared Seal with Gale. Now all the times she'd lovingly stared at her seals and thought about forever seem like a cruel joke. She sneaks a passing glance at Razz and sighs. It's not his fault. His emotions have always driven him. The polar opposite of herself.

If only she could go back being nothing but a weapon. But the pain is too sweet to let go of. All those moments. She'd almost lost them. Once when Gale died. And again when Kard tried to erase her memories and send her back. She knows it'd be easier to let go. To give up on what could have been. But how could she when that hollow pitch black void stares deep into her being every time she uses her seals?

Nevermore stays quiet. She doesn't want to seem rude. Instead she decides to divert the subject.
"I miss love songs." She says softly. "Music in general, really. I miss being able to turn on the radio and just enjoy the music without being reminded of the future I can't have."

She's being dramatic. Self pitying. Humans are fickle things. Just semi operational computers driven by primal urges prettied up and glorified to be justifiable in the face of reason. She could go back. Have Kard erase her memories. Wipe it all out. Go back to a small little world and make happy. But at what cost? Would it matter if no one remembered him? Would it matter if she realized her dream with someone else? Would any of it matter? At all?

Probably not.

Which is why her choice to fight for his memory matters all the more.

Smough's Flagship
Smough raises an eyebrow.
"That was you? I assumed it was The Father." Smough laughs. Then he looks at Gaul's tats. "If I did. They'd be quite expensive. Not something you can just go and find, y'know." Smough lights his pipe and takes a drag. The smoke he exhales is dispersed by the ocean winds.

"If you have appropriate compensation. I may be willing to part with a very rare and very useful Gemstone." Smough smiles hungrily. "Shall we deal?"

Flagship Sub Floor 1
The Gem in Flame's pocket begins it's whispering again.
"Claim me, oh bearer mine. Let me strengthen your blood." The whispers can be heard by no one but Flame. The whispers are also getting stronger. They fill the mind like a crashing wave and recede just as violently.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
Father's prison
Upon hearing Razz's answer Nevermore winces ever so slightly. She observes the seals on the back of her hand.
"That sounds about right." Nevermore remarks to herself as she avoids eye contact. Nevermore is quiet for a while. She considers remaining silent. Or lying. She's done a lot of that recently. "I suppose it is, huh?"

After a moment longer she speaks again.

"Gale said that you're strong enough to handle anything. I was just curious how you'd handle losing her." Nevermore pulls her knees up to get chest and wraps her arms around them. "I don't know why I asked. Forget I said anything."

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Nevermore leans against the wall. Nel is watching her.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
The Father's Prison
Nevermore sighs and thinks of how she could escape. Casting her glance once more to Razz she remembers Gale's stories.
"Hey Razz. If you lost Sia. I mean really lost her. For good. How would you keep going?" Nevermore asks Razz, unsure of what his answer will be.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
East Point Wastes
The Prime Mind makes a low pitch humming noise. It's network lights up similar to a human mind experiencing satisfaction.
"I express my gratitude." The Prime Mind says. A small metallic floral shrub springs up in front of Lexianna. A thin light exudes from it. As the light touches Lexianna she is linked to the Prime Mind telepathically. As information is exchanged the Prime Mind almost smiles.

"The information given is substantially more critical than I had been anticipating. With this information I can complete my Directive [redacted] and [redacted]. I express my gratitude. I express my gratitude. As per the agreement. Here is an ontological scan of Subject: The Father."

Hyper Paracausal Being 0
Hyper dense ontological being "The Father" is foreign to current existential plane. Despite not needing a physical avatar "The Father" still possesses one. This avatar has been scanned and recorded with the following data.

Unstable molecular composition suggests quantum replication. Exact number of current factor is unknown.
Approximation. 5933
Foreign DNA appears to be phased into current genetic structure.
Composition as follows.

52% human genetic composition.
27% of human genetic component appears to be foreign. Both human components appear to be mutated.
Low levels of benign radiation detected in human components.
5% of human genetic composition exhibits ontological capabilities. This particular gene is shared with Subject: Hands of the Father.

48% demonic genetic composition.
Three distinct but similar DNA types.
 Hypothesis. Familial relation between demonic components. Many genetic markers are shared with Subject: Hands of The Father.

Hypothesis
Subject: The Father has undergone quantum replication and self gene therapy.
Goal: stabilization of molecular structure and acquisition both corporeal and metaphysical power.

With the information transferred Prime Mind ceases to telepathically communicate with Lexianna.
"I express my gratitude. Moving to second phase of Primary Directive [redacted]. Farewell."

The earth rumbles as the tree reshapes itself to create a massive seed pod. Life energy is pulled from all across the network and converges on the pod.

Nicholas runs up. Out of breath.
"Lexianna, we have to stop it. It's going to create a living weapon." Nicholas is explaining between breaths. "All the people on this continent were sacrificed to that thing. Their minds are trapped in the system to give it knowledge of people. Their souls are ther energy used to create it. It must be destroyed!"

Just then the energy stops. The omnipresent hum of machine and power goes silent.

A hand bursts forth from the pod. A human hand. Another hand follows. The hands and arms push apart the pod walls and a human man emerges with a crie of defiance. As though to announce his birth to the world.

The soldiers stand at the ready. Waiting for Nicholas to give the order. Nicholas hesitates and looks at Lexianna.

The New Born falls from the pod but lands on his feet as gracefully as an acrobat. He struggles for a moment, trying to speak. His face is filled with confusion and uncertainty.
Finally he speaks.
"Hi..."

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
East Point Wasteland
The Prime Mind takes a moment. Thre whole system processes the new information. It's becoming clear that the entire Wasteland is a brain. Signals arc from one side to the other in plank time.
"The Prime Mind directive is [redacted]." As the Prime Mind answers her question it's obvious that it can't explain its actions. Whether that is intentional or programmed isn't clear. It scans Lexianna again focused more on her seals. Commands explode out of it and vanish into the network.

"I detect an unfamiliar language. I will exchange valuables for the cypher." The Prime Mind produces a hexagonal ruby the size of a fist, an ornate silvered sword that hums with power, and a simulated scroll. "I offer, a master key, treasure, or knowledge regarding The Father."

The Prime Mind wishes to trade for the knowledge necessary for understanding seals.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Blackout
East Point
The entire network of the Converted lights up as the Converted's eyes follow Lexianna. A soft pulsing signal emanates from the confined Converted humans. Anomaly found. The ground shakes as the earth deep below is sent into frenzy. What seemed to be natural bedrock is a living Converted organism. It erupts from the earth and branches outwards and upwards into the sky like a massive tree. Hundreds of feet tall and teeming with sensors of every kind it looms overhead ominously. The entirety of it's workload and computational power devoted to studying Lexianna.

The thousands of spires littering the countryside mimic the Tree. A computational language fills the air as data is exchanged and bounced around from each relay to another part of the massive tree. One word keeps surfacing in reference to the tree, Prime Mind.

"Paracausal Being 0 interface. Initiated.
Inquiry.
Power.
Art.
Symbol.
Tattoo.
Elaboration required." The Prime Mind seems to be attempting to engage with Lexianna. At the same time it also is scanning her attempting to make sense of her power. It seems particularly interested in her Seals.